Friday, November 16, 2018

Matt Riddle - King of Bros

NXT’s King of Bros, Matt Riddle, looked the part of a king
in dispatching tough Luke Menzies in his NXT debut. The former Evolve champion
and NXT newcomer came to the ring with chants of bro from the Full Sail crowd
and a star was born. Sometimes the lights are too bright even in NXT for some
wrestlers and they go back to the independent ranks sometimes never to be seen
on the big stage again.

Matt Riddle is different. He was comfortable and relaxed
with the spotlight. He stood on the turnbuckles and soaked in the adulation
like a drug. Speaking of…. I first saw Riddle in the Ultimate Fighter and I
rooted for him to win because his carefree attitude was infectious. The future
King of Bros always smiled and was happy to be there. His UFC career ended
after a couple positive marijuana tests.

Riddle has found significant success in pro wrestling in a
short time prior to signing with NXT. He was the Evolve champion, WWN champion,
and one half of the Pro Wrestling Guerrilla tag champs with Jeff Cobb when they
were known as the Chosen Bros. Riddle won the Evolve strap with a win over
current NXTUK grappler Zach Sabre Jr at Evolve 102. He held the belt for 121 days
before losing to Shane Strickland at Evolve 108.

After a dustup with Kassius Ohno last week, Riddle has been
booked with Ohno at NXT 478. Ohno will be good opposition for the youngster. He
is strong and agile for a guy who looks like he spends more time on the couch
than in the wrestling ring. It’s a good matchup for Riddle. The 32 year old
billed from Las Vegas certainly could make a run at either one of the NXT belts
in the near future.

There are plenty of great options for the bro after Kassius
Ohno. The NXT talent pool is deep and Tomasso Ciampa’s belt has a huge target
on it. Riddle has the makings of a giant superstar. After a lot of seasoning in
NXT he could make a run in WWE. The athleticism is there to be able to compete
with bigger guys the way two-time WWE champion AJ Styles does as well as
current champ Daniel Bryan.

The threat of the submission makes him dangerous against
wrestlers of any size, so he is capable of winning a title from anyone. Riddle
is green on the mike, but he has the raw skills, and the in ring skill is
there. He is an exciting prospect that will be fun to watch going in 2019.